Cardiac ablation: a procedure for an abnormal heartbeat

Have you heard of heart ablation surgery? As the name implies, this operation is done to solve problems that occur in the heart organ. However, under what conditions should this operation be performed? Then what is the implementation procedure? See a full explanation of heart ablation surgery in the article below.

What is heart ablation surgery?

Cardiac ablation surgery, also known as catheter ablation or radiofrequency ablation, is a medical procedure performed to treat abnormal heart rhythm problems or heart arrhythmias.

This surgery is done by inserting a small tube or catheter into the heart to destroy or damage the tissue in the heart that causes an abnormal heartbeat. Under certain conditions, cardiac ablation can also prevent electrical signals from appearing in the heart to stop arrhythmias.

This operation can be done by means of heart surgery, but is more often done using a catheter. The aim is to make the procedure easier and the recovery process faster as well.

However, not everyone who experiences heart arrhythmias has to go through this one medical procedure. The reason is, arrhythmias can also be treated with the use of drugs.

What are the signs that indicate cardiac ablation should be performed?

As already mentioned, this operation is not mandatory for people with arrhythmias. This means that only in certain cases heart ablation surgery must be performed. The following are some of the conditions that require arrhythmia patients to undergo this procedure:

Tried different types of heart medication for arrhythmias, but got no results.
Experiencing serious side effects after taking medicines for arrhythmias.
Have a type of arrhythmia such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or supraventricular tachycardia, which are effective when treated with cardiac ablation.
Have a high risk of developing arrhythmia complications, such as heart failure.

Here are some of the symptoms of arrhythmia to watch out for:

Chest pain.
Fainting.
Heart palpitations.
Dizziness and lightheadedness.
Skin looks very pale.
Hard to breathe.
Sweating.
Irregular heartbeat.

If you experience any of the symptoms of heart arrhythmia, contact your doctor immediately to find out your health condition. Your doctor will help determine which type of treatment is best for your condition.

What are the possible risks of undergoing this procedure?

In essence, cardiac ablation is a safe medical procedure. However, there are risks that you may have to be aware of before agreeing to undergo heart ablation surgery. Among them:

Bleeding when the catheter is inserted into the heart.
Blood clots that may build up in the arteries in the legs, heart, or brain.
Damage to the artery where the catheter is inserted.
Damage to the heart valve.
Damage to the coronary arteries, which are blood vessels that carry blood to the heart.
Damage to the heart's electrical system, which can worsen arrhythmias.
Damage to the kidneys due to the dye used during this medical procedure.
The appearance of fluid around the heart.
Heart attack.
Stroke.
Dead.

Instead, discuss and weigh the risks and benefits that you will get from this heart ablation surgery with your doctor. That way, when you decide to do this operation, of course this choice has become the best decision.

What to do before undergoing cardiac ablation?

If you and your team of doctors have decided to undergo this surgical procedure, now is the time to prepare yourself for heart ablation. Here are a few things you need to prepare before undergoing this procedure:

Preparation on the day before the procedure:

Tell your doctor or medical team about any medications, including herbal ingredients, that you are taking. Some of the drugs you need to be informed about are aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor, warfarin, and various types of blood thinners such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and edoxaban.
If you smoke, stop smoking before this procedure is performed.
Tell your doctor about any health conditions you are experiencing, especially flu, fever, herpes, or various other illnesses.
Consume food and drinks recommended by your doctor for 24 hours prior to undergoing this procedure.

Meanwhile, here are some things you need to prepare on the day this procedure will be carried out:

Obey the doctor's rule not to consume certain foods and drinks for 6-8 hours before the procedure.
Take medications recommended by your doctor or medical team before the procedure.
Come to the hospital for this procedure on time.
Make sure someone will accompany or at least drop you off and pick you up while you are undergoing this procedure.

How is this procedure performed?

According to the British Heart Foundation, a heart ablation procedure will begin with the administration of a local anesthetic and an injection to reduce the discomfort that may arise during the procedure.

In addition, since the procedure may be uncomfortable for several hours, you will be asked to lie down and not move too much.

Here are some of the things the medical team will do during cardiac ablation:

The catheter will be inserted through a vein or artery, either through the inner thigh or wrist.
If it has been successfully entered, the catheter will be directed towards the heart organ.
If you have never done a heart electrical system examination, your doctor will do this to get a clear picture of the location of the heart rhythm problem that is being experienced.
Then, the doctor will use radiofrequency energy or a clotting method to destroy the tissue in the heart that is causing the heart's abnormal rhythm. This process will also block abnormal electrical impulses in that area of the heart.

What are the conditions after undergoing cardiac ablation?

Even if this medical procedure was declared successful, under certain conditions, you may have to repeat this procedure. In fact, you may still need to take medication afterward.

Therefore, practice a healthy lifestyle to maintain and improve the health of the heart organ. You are also advised to deal with other health problems that have the potential to cause arrhythmias, such as hypertension.

Some of the lifestyle changes you can make include: